Large pohutakawa hedge cut down after myrtle rust found

A 50-metre long pohutukawa hedge in rural Waitara in Taranaki has been cut down after myrtle rust was found in it. The hedge is the first large stand of trees to be infected by the fungus. There are now 29 sites confirmed to have the fungus. MPI Incident Controller, David Yard says the find in the hedge helps explain more about how the fungus is spreading.